A Big British City Might Name Its Airport For Ozzy Osbourne To Boost Tourism

A proposal to name the airport of England's second-largest city
after Black Sabbath star Ozzy Osbourne is being considered by
Birmingham's City Council.

The idea was put forward by Jim Simpson of Big Bear Music, who
was Black Sabbath's first manager after discovering the local
Birmingham band.

He sees it as a way to improve the city's reputation and put some
money in its coffers.

In an e-mail, Simpson told Business
Insider the new name would a "masterstroke" that would
confound cynics and boost tourism:

Curiosity would be aroused, fans would travel from afar to be
photographed in front of the name, international travelers might
opt to choose the airport rather than the more
conventionally-named alternatives/competitors, but it’s much more
than that.

Simpson argues the common British view of Birmingham residents,
or "Brummies," is that they are dull, humorless, and
conventional. Flaunting the name of the
bat-decapitating Birmingham native "would display an attitude
of such confidence as to dispel" those impressions.

Why Osbourne? He "may not always have been a paragon of virtue,"
Simpson said, "but he is a genuine flesh and blood Brummie."

In a letter to the Birmingham Mail, Simpson also took a shot at
Liverpool's John Lennon Airport, saying it "is distinctly
unimpressive, provincial and bears no comparison with ours."

The proposal has been met with interest. Councilor
Philip Parkin told the Daily Mail: "It's an interesting idea
and I've got an open mind. I would be interested to know what
people thought about it. We need to be making the most of the
talent we have got and did have in this city."

Update: In an e-mail, Parkin clarified that
there are no plans to rename the airport, but noted "the reaction
that the 'Ozzy airport' idea has already generated has
demonstrated once again quite how 'big' Black Sabbath are."

He also pointed out that there would be people opposed to the
idea, explaining his call for a public consultation.